Sweet Success with a Noble Purpose: Sugar and Spice Las Vegas

Speaker A: Hi and welcome to another episode of Celebrating small family Businesses. Today we are celebrating sugar and spice in Las Vegas. And we have Sherry and John Long. And then we have their kids, Aston, Teilani and Alexis. Welcome, guys. How are you doing?

Speaker B: Thank you for watching.

Speaker A: We are so glad to have you guys here with us. So who wants to tell us the story of the. I'm guessing it's probably got to be Sherry, but how did the business get started? Like, where. Where did sugar and spice come from?

Speaker C: Sugar and spice began as a teacher side hustle in Southern California. Um, at the time, I was working with at risk high school students. I was working with these kids out of the classroom. So they were in an alternative high school department program. And I was working to help these kids find housing, find jobs, set up bank accounts. What I discovered while I was working with these kids is the majority of them were foster youth that had aged out of the system at age 18, and they kind of were left to their own devices at that point. So when we left Southern California and moved to Nevada and this teacher side hustle became a full time endeavor, I opened it with the intent to bring those kids in and hire those kids. So since then, we've pulled. We've worked with different organizations and workforce development programs. And I have kids come in that are foster youth that have aged out, and many of them also have developmental disabilities. A lot of them, most of them on the autism spectrum.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker C: So it's been a.

Speaker D: Been.

Speaker C: Well, that was 2017 and started in. In Nevada in 2019.

Speaker A: Wonderful. What a mission.

Speaker B: Wow.

Speaker C: Uh, and right before COVID And right before COVID Exactly. That was the whole story in and of itself.

Speaker D: Yeah.

Speaker A: And your. Your primary product is peanut butter balls that are coated in chocolate, is that right?

Speaker C: We do gourmet chocolate peanut butter balls and in two sizes. We have four count boxes and 12 count boxes. People always ask if is that all you do? And it is. I would say we are a one product operation. However, um, Kehlani and I did do some R and D and try different flavors. And, um, the general consensus was that they were liked. Um, it's just a matter of the time to perfect it and reprint boxes and ingredient labels and whatnot. So we did add some flavors. Um, Kelani. We did butter, rum, banana, banana, Peanut

Speaker E: butter, which actually went quite well with it.

Speaker C: Coffee. And we did, um, we added a protein powder to. To try it out. Um, and they were liked. It's just. It's just the time involved. It's m. You know, there's Only so many hours in the day. And so. So right now, they're just straight up peanut butter balls. They have a chocolate smooth chocolate on the outside, and we always say surprise crunch on the inside.

Speaker A: Ah. Uh, all right, well, I think you've won some awards, too. I remember from your website you've won several awards in the. In the Las Vegas area for Best of, uh, this and that. Right?

Speaker C: Yeah. Just this past Saturday, they announced, uh, Best of Las Vegas 2024, and we placed gold in the chocolatier category. So that was exciting. Um, we're three years running now for Best of Las Vegas. And, you know, it's. It's humbling when a small business wins. And we've got other larger candy locations, um, all over. So that was exciting. And in this town, it's huge bragging rights, so, yeah, that was really fun. It comes out and it's a big deal. Everyone looks to see who won for this year. And so we are Best of Las Vegas Chocolatier.

Speaker A: Wonderful.

Speaker C: Cool award that I won for the local Autism Foundation. We were recognized as the community partner in working with their workforce development program and bringing in the kids with autism to work in our program. So that was exciting. Um, I've. I received a grant for training from, uh, Manufacture Nevada recently. So they're working with me on. We're doing some sales and marketing and some financial training and QuickBooks, which is completely foreign to me. Um, so, yeah, so there's been quite a bit. It's been exciting.

Speaker A: That is fantastic. Well, so our, you know, big question since we're talking about family business, is what do you love about working with family? And we got a lot of voices here. So who wants to start?

Speaker E: I'll start.

Speaker A: Yes, sir.

Speaker E: He'll start.

Speaker F: Either the princess or the, uh, the one with the different hats here can go. Do you want to go first, then Kaylani?

Speaker C: I'll go ahead.

Speaker F: Um, okay, go ahead.

Speaker E: We get a lot of time to, like, bond together when we're working. We just, like. I mean, we'll just be talking, and I feel like even though we're already family, like, we get to know each other better and, like, stay caught up with each other's lives and stuff. And we'll play, like, little games while we're working and stuff, and it's really fun in that sense.

Speaker B: We've got a shared curated playlist that has everyone's music taste. Um, that's usually playing in the background.

Speaker C: Yeah, I. I think so too. Like it. It's created a lot of time where we'll be across from each other and, and we're in a big commercial kitchen space, but we're across from each other at the, the tables and conversations happen. You know, you're making peanut butter balls and there's a lot of conversation that happens.

Speaker F: Well, and I'm on my end, I think, uh, being able to pull together and be a, uh, part of the success through the business, starting out in the very beginning, learning how to fold the boxes, which boxes are going to work, all the research are, uh, the research and development that, you know, my wife Sherry had to go through. And what about this one and this? And so we knew how to do this one and then we knew how to do another one. And as it evolved and as the product was starting to change and get dynamic and then making a commercial kitchen out of rented space and going through the process of that, doing the floors that were acceptable and passing inspection and investing all that time and effort into it and then seeing all the fruit of the labor coming into when now I walk into the kitchen and she has this workforce and they're just knocking this out and the people are in the commercial kitchen and you see the joy that they are achieving a lot. And it warms your heart to see that these young individuals are working in an employed state and they're, you know, they're being compensated as well and the, the feeling of being able to be successful in their endeavor and then see what the finished product is. It's very nice to see that I drop in from time to time when my delivery boy hat goes on, um, when it's not the it, which, you know, we've been having difficulties on our Internet, but um, you know, I do the financial things and a whole variety of things, but seeing what it takes to pull it together and I think as a family to be able to do that for each other and for, you know, mama and seeing the success that follows along with it and what we have for hopes in the future, I think it's a very pleasant, uh, experience for our children and to see how a business grows. And our children are very much the go getters in life and they are looking to have successful careers in their fields as well. So I think it's a beautiful example of how the good work, um, pulls together and there's a lot of reward involved with it as well.

Speaker E: I completely agree. She's um, she's a good influence on how to run a business and deal with other people and stuff.

Speaker B: And I will say when we have to, you know, combat, you know, Hurdles that come our way. Being able to have so many different perspectives, um, helps with troubleshooting. And we were able to bounce ideas off each other. And, well, you know, I'm thinking, what about if we try this? Well, I actually was thinking this, and, um, so that's been very helpful just to have us all as a family in that sense as well.

Speaker C: I think everybody pays attention to things that, um, you wouldn't normally pay attention to either. You know, like the kids open. When it was. When we were trying to master the box, the kids would open a pizza box, and they'd be like, well, mom, what about if we made it like this? Or, you know, just, uh, that you never really paid attention to. They'd say they'd come home with saved boxes, you know, a cookie box. And, like, well, I looked at this box or. Or Aston was at a Starbucks and took a picture of something and sent it to me.

Speaker G: So.

Speaker C: Things that you wouldn't even normally pay attention to. I think, as a whole, we kind of look at how things. Things are designed in a whole new light, too.

Speaker A: Cool. Aston, you were trying to get in there.

Speaker G: Yeah, I just. I wanted to talk about how, like, one of the coolest things, I think, at least for me, is to. I mean, we've been in this for such a long time now, to look back and. And just see how far we've come. You know, we're always constantly working so hard and. And to kind of just stop the moments where, you know, like. Like the kitchen, for example. You know, we walk into the kitchen, and you see a whole factory line, and these kids are hard at work, and it's like, you know, years ago, this was just an empty building, and we kind of built all of it, and it's just to kind of step back and watch everything and really see what we've built. I feel like it's one of the coolest parts of it all.

Speaker C: And I will say they point that out to me a lot, because I'm so in the moment. They'll be like, mom, this is your kitchen. Like, you know, this is like, look. And so sometimes I have to step back because they'll walk in and just kind of look around and sort of, um. You know, this. This is your. This is. This is. This is our space here. Like, so sometimes it. It kind of. I'm just so like, go, go, go. Get it done. Focus on what? That they sort of sometimes bring me down and, you know, look at. Look at what. Look at what we've created here.

Speaker A: Yeah. Measuring progress. You know, updating living, being. I mean, being present, like being in the moment. Yeah, you got to do that to get it done.

Speaker G: But.

Speaker A: But how?

Speaker D: Appreciating what you've come. Um, yeah.

Speaker C: Measuring that progressed is important. Say that again, Kelani.

Speaker E: And realizing how much you've accomplished is important too.

Speaker C: Mhm.

Speaker B: Just recently.

Speaker F: AJ has recently stepped up into the sales market as well. Uh, some of the local contacts here, bigger companies. Uh, Ashton is developing a nice way of presenting a sales pitch and being able to go in as the closer when my wife gets the clientele. And he's able to, uh, draw them in further and get an opportunity for a trial. And, um, so he's contributing more and more on that end. So it's nice to have the businessman in the setting as well.

Speaker C: I think everyone kind of, uh, it's been a learning experience in that everyone kind of has their role and their strengths and, you know, when you're. When you're running the whole show. And, um, you know, Kehlani has this brain that can look at a flat template of a box and figure out what it'll do when. Once it's folded. M. My m. Mind does not work like this. So I would get these templates from the printer and I'd be lost, and she would look at it and say, no, you need to have this, this and this and these tabs. And then it'll fold and. Okay. And I'd send it back and they'd show me something like, how about this? And she'd be like, no, but this piece needs to. Whereas my brain doesn't do that. So I'm like, you, you're the director of packaging.

Speaker E: You know, um, work together and benefit each other in that way too. Like, we have different minds, so we see different things.

Speaker C: Definitely. Um, I am not a social media guru, and I know that social media is huge, and I look at Instagram and just want to start crying half the time. So I'll send Alexis things and say, can you put this on there and share this and tag this? And you know, and she's. And I'm like, okay, we now have the manager of social media. And then, you know, it comes to sales and I'm. I'm kind of hemming and hawing and I can't get, you know, I can't get something in a location. And I'll tell Aston, okay, call him, you know, make it happen. And he'll get off the phone and say, okay, go deliver tomorrow. You know, So I think we all kind of have our Strengths, and we put those into play, and it's been very, very helpful.

Speaker A: And did you know those strengths beforehand, or did you kind of figure them out on the fly as you had problems to solve together?

Speaker G: I think more than ever, we kind of had no choice. It was sort of brought out of us. So even if we had these, um, strengths before this, I mean, especially just growing up, I mean, we were younger when the business started, but I think kind of having no choice but to look at each other's perspectives, and even though we might all be part of the same family, we're very different people. So when we all kind of come together, we have no choice but to sort of rely on each other in the. In the areas that we lack. And it kind of just brings us all up together.

Speaker C: I think working.

Speaker F: Working as a family. Uh, let me just add this, sweetie, and then you can go, uh. I think working as a family syntax is very important, because initially it wasn't. Would you like to go to the kitchen and help me today? It's, you'll be going to the kitchen and helping me today.

Speaker C: I always made it a choice. I never did that. I always made it a choice. I. Oh. And I did that on purpose because I never wanted it to be a, A, A resentful situation, like, I have to go work for my mom or I have to do this. So it was always made. I always made it an option or a choice. And I think that is what also pulled out strengths because, um, Kehlani was the one that chose to come to the kitchen and do the. The physical, you know, the physical creation of. Of. Of a product, while Alexis did the behind the scenes, and AJ's the people person. So I always made it, um, a choice of, you know, do you want to do this? Do you want to do that? Now, sometimes I'm like, okay, now I really need you to call and get this location and close, Close the sale. You know, but they're also older now, so I think they. They see it, you know, they get it more now. Um, and then, you know, when the computer breaks, the IT guy steps in, and, you know, um, when there's plumbing issues, the plumber arrives at the kitchen, and, you know, and then, of course,

Speaker F: we're coming to the end of the year, so taxes are due, so the accountant is here.

Speaker E: And I'd also say the business definitely allows us to, like, combine our strengths and work together like that.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker A: How do you. When you say combine, um, you mean, um, in a general sense, or do you mean, like. Like Something to do, maybe, like the boxes where you. You found a way to combine that way.

Speaker E: I'd say, like, we each kind of have our own section of the business. So, like she said, like, I'm, uh, the packaging manager. Aston does the sales. Alexis is like, the social media stuff.

Speaker D: There we go.

Speaker E: We can all, um, work together to make it a whole and succeed like that.

Speaker G: I think it kind of goes both ways with that, because if you look at the business as a whole without each of us, I feel like we're all kind of crucial in our own way. So the business would suffer a lot without each of our strengths. But then also with individual things, like, sometimes Kehlani and I will be trying to find a more efficient way to do this or that, and I can't figure it out, and she can't figure it out. And then when we sit down together and look at something, our strengths kind of come together on. On something in, like, a smaller aspect as well. So it kind of goes both ways.

Speaker A: Nice. That's. That's what I was wondering. Yeah. So, um, hopefully all these things that you're figuring out and documenting, uh, that you're documenting them all, so that. Because someday you're going to. Might need to replace yourself as you move on to something else.

Speaker F: Well, go ahead with. With the boxes and that. I always told the kids, you know, when it. When it gets into the big factory and, you know, you're in the supervisory position, I say, Kehlani can walk up there and say, oh, it's a little bit more efficient if you do it this way, because she's learned everything from the ground up. Right. I mean, that makes a great manager. If you've done all the jobs yourself and you know exactly what it is and. And what the little tweaks and, um, tricks are.

Speaker C: And I think to what agency? I think you think of things, you know, different people think of different things. For example, he. He called one location to see if they would take product and sell them, and they kind of hemmed and hawed. Oh, we're not interested. You know, we're not really sure. And had I been on the phone, I would have said, okay, well, maybe, you know, another time, and gotten off the phone, put my tail between my legs and laugh. And, you know, when they came back with, you know, we're not. We're not really sure we want peanut products, he was so quick on his feet and said, well, you know, I have noticed that you have Reese's and Snickers, and both of those are peanut products. You know, and that was such, like, I can't even think that fast. So when. So I think it's just different thoughts and different brains, and, you know, you just think differently, and it comes together and really create something.

Speaker A: What'd you say, Kehlani?

Speaker C: I missed you 100.

Speaker E: I totally agree with that.

Speaker A: Ah.

Speaker C: Uh, yeah.

Speaker A: Oh, that's what. Teamwork.

Speaker D: Exactly.

Speaker A: I mean, the fact that you guys have just kind of figured this out naturally. You know, some families go decades, and they don't figure this out and getting the roles right. Getting the role straight and. And figuring out strengths. And so my hat's off to. To y'. All. This is.

Speaker D: And letting each other grow where you need to grow. That's kudos to you, too.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker A: Yeah. Does your teacher background. M. Sherry, does their teacher background really, um, did it really lend itself well to. To bringing your kids into the business?

Speaker C: Oh, tremendously, tremendously. I think I pulled them in. Probably the same way I would teach is like, we're going to find your strength, and we're going to. We're going to focus on your strength. Um, I think when I was teaching, I also. I don't want to say I made learning a choice because, you know, these kids are forced to go to school, and they have to be there. But I had a way of making my students responsible for their learning. And I would say that with my own kids, um, making it a choice and having them see their strengths and realize that they're good at this or they're good at that, and they can really benefit the business. Um, I think was definitely a teacher background. Yeah, for sure. And I think it's helped them, um, in other ways. Alexis has gone on with working with marketing and in with sugar and Spice. She's gone on and created. She's in the process of creating a group on her college campus right now. Completely unrelated, but still with the background that she learned or took with her to school,

Speaker E: you definitely leadership. Like to take control when no one else will. That's a big, uh, aspect that you pass down to us, maybe.

Speaker C: Yeah. Yeah. To kind of take the bull by the horns and make something happen. Um, and I think all three of my kids have. Have seen that. And. And that's. I mean, I think part of it's probably personality, but I think a lot of it kind of came out in a step back and teach kind of mode as well. Um, you know, Aston's working right now, and like John said, he's doing sales, and I think it sort of transfers over. Um, so I Think they've been able to take what they've learned and kind of put it in areas of their own lives, too?

Speaker A: Yeah. When you can learn and take some risks and make mistakes and it's still okay and it's safe, then, you know, you have much more self confidence to try new things and to transfer those skills, because there's so much transferable skills I'm, um, here and here that, you know, just goes on in other areas of life and other businesses.

Speaker C: Do I miss the classroom? No. Will I ever go back to teaching? No. But I always joke that my classroom has morphed into a large commercial kitchen. And it's still happening.

Speaker F: We still have an educator in the works. I'm on my year 31 of teaching, so I keep talking to the boss over here who, you know, supplies my. My big paychecks for me. When are we going to explode so I can get into retirement mode for my first occupation and get in here full time?

Speaker D: Cool.

Speaker A: One of our questions that we like to ask is about a challenge you've overcome. And you talked about the little growing spirit pains, but you had a pretty big challenge a few years ago with COVID and you guys are in a food manufacturing plant. So tell us about how you weathered that storm.

Speaker C: So I actually couldn't even think of a challenge. And Kehlani said, you know, Kehlani was like. I think it was when Covid was around. I had Covid. Very. I was down for six weeks, Completely down. Um, probably should have been hospitalized, but I wasn't. I was quarantined to the upstairs bedroom. Um, so for six weeks, I was not in production. I was not doing invoicing. I mean, I couldn't even get out of bed. It was. It was a. It was a challenge just to walk to the bathroom. So they took over. Alexis, you did the balls. Kehlani was helping with the balls and the packaging. AJ Was making boxes. Alexis, like, at one point, I was walking her through how to. How to complete an invoice, to invoice one of the hotels out here. And she said, oh, I didn't know you did all this. And I was like, yeah. So she became pretty adept at, uh, invoicing. When checks came in, I was talking her through how to market as a paid invoice. And then he was delivering. So I was literally in bed, down for six weeks, and they ran everything. And that speaks. Speaks volumes.

Speaker E: Yeah, I'd say it was a really big challenge. And, um, more than ever, we had to learn to each do our part. I mean, of course, excluding Cherry because she couldn't help out with us. But we were really connected at that point because we totally had to work together.

Speaker C: I mean, I remember getting like a record.

Speaker G: You know, like we were talking about earlier.

Speaker A: Go ahead, Aston.

Speaker G: Like, earlier we were talking about kind of how our strengths come together. And this was like a prime example of that. I mean, it really. It went. Went ultimate test. I know she likes to say we had a choice. I would argue that during COVID we did not have a choice, but it was.

Speaker F: We.

Speaker G: I mean, we had no choice. We had. So we sort of had no choice but to sort of, you know, come together. And. And if we didn't, the business was not going to continue to thrive. And it was. It was definitely a challenge, but we learned a lot. We grew closer because of it, and ultimately we were able to come together and make it happen.

Speaker C: There was probably some bribery in there at that point. Then, you know, something came with it.

Speaker F: But yeah, there were bonuses to that minor salary at that time.

Speaker E: There you go.

Speaker A: M. Hard times bring hard choices, too.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Ah, Kehlani just brought up the other day. She said, remember when it was a snow cone or a McDonald's Sunday for pay? I said, yeah, yeah, exactly.

Speaker E: It was very worth it, though.

Speaker D: Cool.

Speaker C: Yeah. So I. I would say that was probably the biggest. That was. That was a huge hurdle, um, in the way of challenges and just, you know, you know, I mean, when you're a small business and you don't have other people to run the show, um, it's. It was a matter I couldn't just. I couldn't just go out for six weeks. Um, so it was a matter of keeping things going. And I was completely hands off at that point.

Speaker E: But that was a really.

Speaker F: I would say that was the biggest challenge. But other challenges that we've had was like the first time that there was considerably larger order that would come in, and it's like, oh, my goodness. Uh, so we have to get the boxes ready. We have to have enough of the ingredients. We have to get it together. I have to have time to, you know, create the product and then get it packaged and then get the invoices and everything. And when it was a quick turnaround. So that was, you know, you work well under pressure, and we got a taste of what the pressure was like in those moments as well. And that's when you really got to stay level headed and pull together. And, uh, I would say those times makes you a lot more efficient and that. Yeah, yeah, I think that Transfers over with the organization and then also with the teaching background as far as organizing things like you would organize the lesson. Everybody has a component that goes together that's going to pull together for your finished product. And a lot of things in education, that's what we're, we're trying to get the young people to do is work together and have an understanding as to how they play a certain part in the overall, each piece. And that uh, makes us successful in the end.

Speaker C: Kaylani, what were you going to add?

Speaker E: It was such a difficult time for us, so I think it's definitely proof that if anything like that ever happened again or if the rest of us had to run the business, then we

Speaker C: could definitely do it.

Speaker G: Absolutely.

Speaker C: And you guys are older now too, so I could see. I think, yeah, definitely. I mean, let's hope it never does. But I think even being older now, you could definitely take over.

Speaker A: Yeah, it's huge self confidence boost. You know, that's, that kind of goes back with that, you know, mention of keeping track of your accomplishments. You know, that's one of those things, you know, you can do. Uh, you went through that. So. And it goes on the list.

Speaker D: And a well run business, if the owner has to step out for some reason, everybody else can pull it together.

Speaker C: And I feel confident now that if, if that were to happen, if for some reason I had to leave or step out or, or travel and get whatever, I feel confident that um, they, they could do it, they could do it.

Speaker D: Right? Well, they did it for the, what the 18 months to two years of COVID So kudos to all of you.

Speaker C: And that was a, that was probably, I mean that it was me having Covid, but was with having a food product and being in a tourism city, it was a challenge keeping things going. Also because all of my hotels shut down. I, I have a lot of the coffee locations in the hospitals and obviously those were closed without visitors. Uh, in the hospitals, the airport, all my stores in the airport. No one's flying. My stores in the airport weren't taking pots product. Uh, so it was a challenge in terms of losing, uh, a lot of locations that either were shut down or closed or didn't come back after Covid

Speaker F: and then having to re. Establish relationships with the different companies and, and finding new locations and uh, you know, she, she wore out some shoes hitting the pavement. She was really having to hustle and come up and still it's a, it's a constant that uh, you know, she's constantly getting out there and she's getting more notoriety and people are seeing the product and she's getting um, reorders from people from different functions, different uh, places that they've seen them, they're in venues where they're sporting events and that's starting to come to fruition and um, it's starting really to grow. So I'm waiting for the explosion.

Speaker A: Do you have a, a corporate gift part of your business or where you, you know.

Speaker C: Okay, yeah, yeah, I've done quite a few construction company and real estate. I just did an IT company and one of the things that I do if, if they want is I'm always willing to co brand with, with companies too. So if they provide me with ribbon or stickers or thing, you know, I, I'm happy to, to, to share in the uh, you know, in the product. Um, so I've done some co branding with some companies and, and you know we put both, both of our names or our logos on the box somehow and make it work. And um, I, I love cross promoting. You know, especially if it's a fellow small business. I, I, you know, I, I love helping them out. If they're going to buy product and get it out there, then I'm more than happy to put their logo on my box.

Speaker D: Yeah. Because you know that IT guy is not sitting back there rolling peanut butter balls.

Speaker A: He might be rolling something else.

Speaker D: Yeah, right. But, but what a, what a wonderful thing of, of that smart cross branding. Because a lot of people don't understand that that um, what it helps everybody.

Speaker C: I love cross promoting. I feel like it's a win win for everybody.

Speaker D: Absolutely. Absolutely.

Speaker C: Yeah. And Alexis is being, being on social media and, and the social media manager that she is, she'll find things or places online or, or post and she'll send them to me and say hey can we do something with this or do you want to contact them or should we reach out to them or you know, so um, you know it's, it's sometimes finding those leads too. Um, so she'll find the leads and I'll contact them and then I'll have astonishment close the deal and Kehlani will, the box is good to go. It's a, it's a win win for everybody.

Speaker F: And then, and also with the website too where it shows where the product is and so that's giving promotion for the different venues that she uh, is, is in especially with the smaller businesses, some of the, the coffee establishments, a local owned small business and it's like you know the product can be found in These locations. And you see that on the website. And especially for, you know, we. We appreciate the local draw of the people. And if they can seek her product at a coffee shop, at a butcher shop, at different things like that. And that is helping to promote the other people too. It just, it starts tumbling and tumbling and tumbling and there's more and more orders that are coming from those venues for her. And as a result, they see, hey, do you. People are coming in, they're asking for it. It's also drawing in their business as well. Right, Great.

Speaker A: And. And if you're running. If you're running links from your website to those locations and they're getting a backlink to their website and that's also good for them. Nice.

Speaker C: Yeah. And they do. They. I. I have links for, you know, different small coffee shops, winery, you know, um, gifting. I work with some gift basket type like locations. And um, you know, it's. People think of Vegas as big. And once you're in. In. Once you're in it, it's really. Especially as a small business, it's a very supportive city of small business. Um, and it's really just not that big. Um, you know, we all run in the same circles. And so I'm friends with a basket lady who uses cookies and peanut butter balls and puts them all in her gift baskets. I find that everyone kind of tries to help each other out and, and lift each other up. You know, people think of Vegas as big, but I think in the small business world, in Vegas, we all run in the same circles and I think everyone's pretty supportive.

Speaker A: That makes sense because you've got really two economies. You've got the, you know, the strip economy, the big nationwide advertising on tourism. And then, um, you've got the rest of the city.

Speaker C: Yeah, yeah.

Speaker D: And the people who live there and work there.

Speaker C: And there's also a big difference between, um, you know, my wholesale sales and my consumer direct sales too. So I, I kind of go in both directions because I guess the nature of the city that we're in, sharing

Speaker F: through some organizations had some invitations, uh, to um. When F1 was first getting established, she did a, uh, she had an area where she was, um, helping with the media people that were coming.

Speaker C: Super Bowl.

Speaker F: Well, for. For F1, the media coverage. And they were there and got to know her product and things like that. It was a big for. For all of them. And then, um, and then with the super bowl too. And as a side product, they.

Speaker C: Well, there was the Business Connect program comes into the host City. And I think they had 700 applicants. They found 200 small businesses. They vet those businesses and then they put them in a, ah, manual, I guess you could call it, for, for the host committee to come into town. And here's 200 small businesses. And, you know, they were everything. Photography, videography, balloons, flowers, you name it. So I made that.

Speaker E: What.

Speaker C: What is it?

Speaker G: What was it?

Speaker C: It was a catalog. Catalog, I guess, of businesses. And I was one of the 200 that were in there. And then what John was talking about was the media event that they hosted when they welcomed all of everybody and they had the small businesses, um, participate in that media event. And, and you know, they either did the decorations or we, we had our food products there and whatnot. And then they did a lot of, um, small business m. Like conference type situations. We, they taught us about cybersecurity. They gave us a little pop on marketing. It was just sort of like the host committee and the super bowl came together and they just wanted to, like, train these small businesses on various aspects of, of, of being a business. And, um, at the very end, the very last one was kind of like a hoorah. The Super Bowl's coming. You guys made it this far. This is awesome. And they raffled off two tickets to the Super Bowl.

Speaker A: Congratulations.

Speaker D: Fabulous.

Speaker B: Wow.

Speaker D: Sure.

Speaker C: So Sugar and Spice took those tickets and, uh, I brought them home. And Alexis videoed me, you know, telling him that he won these tickets. And I, I. How many views were on that video, Alexis?

Speaker B: It got up pretty high. Yes, that sounds about right. I haven't looked recently. I mean, it was, it was a while ago.

Speaker G: 60 or 80,000 views.

Speaker C: Yeah, it was crazy.

Speaker A: Wow.

Speaker C: I mean, just, just coming home and telling my husband, guess what? I, I walked in with an NFL bag. It was like a, uh, duffel. Duffel bag. And I said, look at this cool bag I won. And it had the NFL logo. And he thought that was just the neatest thing because it was the official NFL duffel bag. And I said, but wait, look what's inside of it. And I opened it up and pulled out those massive life sizes right there behind you. Um, and his mouth just dropped. And so, um, you know, in my head I'm thinking I could buy a new house with this. Um, but he's like, my question was,

Speaker F: are you going to take me?

Speaker D: Yeah, I was going to say there's, there's a whole room here.

Speaker C: I think if I didn't take it, it would have been grounds for divorce. So, yeah, that was, that was fun. And that was as a result of being a small business here in Las Vegas.

Speaker D: There you go. And you never know where something like that's going to show up.

Speaker A: Oh, and that's an asset that just continues, right? You can re. Promote that too, can't you, Alexis?

Speaker D: Yeah. Mhm.

Speaker C: So that was, that was definitely a perk.

Speaker A: Cool. Well, so our final question, I guess is what's next? Where. What do you see?

Speaker G: Expansion.

Speaker C: Wait, what did you say?

Speaker A: That was quick.

Speaker G: I said expansion.

Speaker C: Expansion. But like. Okay, so someone asked you that. Uh, they know the answer to this. What's, what's. What's been the goal for me from the get go?

Speaker E: Ready? One.

Speaker G: Should we say it on three?

Speaker D: Yes.

Speaker C: Starbucks. M. Yeah. My goal from the get go has been to get Sugar and spice peanut butter balls, our little four count boxes, into Starbucks. And Ashton was in one once and, and there was this little tray in the 4x4 space by the register and he took a picture and said, mom, your product would fit perfect here. Um, and I'm in. You name a coffee house in this town and I've either contacted them or they carry my product. Um, so the goal has always been Starbucks. I. And, and, and I think with that would be to get beyond the confines of, of Vegas. You know, I'd love to just. I mean, how many independent coffee houses are in this country? Right?

Speaker D: Um,

Speaker B: you have, I, um, mean, you were in Texas for a while, you had a coffee shop.

Speaker G: Man, you're in Manhattan.

Speaker B: Yeah, so the, the growth is coming at a very quick speed.

Speaker C: Yeah. Um, Texas and Manhattan. Manhattan. He had a coffee shop here and he took, he sold this coffee shop and opened a place in Manhattan and still wanted them. So they were shipped to Manhattan to New York and then Texas. She found. I, I don't know, Alexis, you. That was an online. She found us.

Speaker B: Yeah, she, um, I think had seen one of our, our posts that had gotten, um, to a larger audience and said, yeah, I run this cheese shop. You know, these would be a great addition. And we said, okay, let's do it.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker A: Which city in. In Texas? I'm curious.

Speaker C: Round Rock.

Speaker A: Round Rock?

Speaker B: Yeah, I think, I think so. I say yes, it's very little.

Speaker C: Yeah, tiny little. It's like they're known for some huge antique show that they have every year.

Speaker D: Yes, it's a huge thing.

Speaker A: See,

Speaker F: if you go there, you'll probably see her product.

Speaker C: Yeah, there you go.

Speaker D: Uh, so, yeah, I'd rather come to Vegas.

Speaker C: Come to Vegas. I'd love to get beyond the confines of, of sure. Vegas, Nevada. I mean, I. I'm in Reno up north and. And, uh, Mesquite. Um, but just to get beyond Nevada and. And move into other locations, um, would be.

Speaker A: It sounds like it's coming and you got a team behind you.

Speaker G: Well, I think we're. We're only one national contract away.

Speaker C: Okay, I like that thought.

Speaker G: Like, no matter what it is, I think that's. That's the big break we need. I mean, we're expanding rapidly, but we've got some things that are, uh, you know, in talking stages of regional and that. And I think just one national contract with a chain of stores or whatever it may be will just kind of get us out there so much, and it'll just take off from there to, you know, everywhere you go. Sugar and spice.

Speaker C: I mean, and we are in some locations here regionally. You know, we're in Total Wine. And, uh, their, uh, distribution centers aren't really set up for food right now, you know, and they're back east, and so there's some logistics in there. Um, but, you know, I'd love to think that eventually we could move into other Total Wine locations, um, you know, or. Or other hotel. I mean, a lot of the hotels obviously, of. Have other hotels and, you know, um,

Speaker D: yeah, there's one particular chain that is known for their cookies. If you could get into another chain.

Speaker C: Right,

Speaker A: right.

Speaker C: Double Tree.

Speaker D: But. But to go into another brand and say, put your name on there and

Speaker C: there you go, and that's what I would love.

Speaker D: I would.

Speaker C: I would love to just, you know, like Aston said, get some. Some sort of national distribution.

Speaker F: That. That coming from our up and coming salesman there. I. I think he just, uh.

Speaker D: Your sales department's on it.

Speaker G: I think I got some work to do.

Speaker D: Yeah.

Speaker A: Yes, you do.

Speaker D: You could do it networking.

Speaker E: And I'd say if she did get to that point, then it's definitely like. Yeah. When she gets to that point, it's definitely like a watermark for both businesses because obviously, we know the Double Tree cookies. We've visited, uh, tons of Double Trees while traveling and stuff. So that would be a great opportunity for her.

Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Speaker C: I've always. I've always been a strong believer that the right people come at the right time. And so sometimes I think it's just. I feel. I've always felt like there's. There's something big around the corner, um, and little baby steps are setting me up along the way. Um, so sometimes I think it's just being patient, um, and just trusting that the right People or the right opportunity will present itself at the right time.

Speaker D: When it's hard to go from a crawling stage to a full run, there's a lot that has to happen. Right. And so it sounds like you all are, are in that, getting, starting to stand up and getting ready to rock out.

Speaker C: And I will say we celebrate together too. You know, I mean, I just got a massive order from one of the hotels for a valentine event that they're doing and I came home and I said, um, it's 700 boxes. And then I say they upped it to 1100 and then like that afternoon, now they want 1200, you know. And so we, you know, we um, celebrate together too, I think. Um, and I think that's what also

Speaker B: fuels us is celebrating the little wins. Um, it keeps us going, keeps us encouraged.

Speaker D: Mhm.

Speaker B: Um, and does show us how far we have come.

Speaker G: And it's not even really us celebrating the bigger win or uh, I mean the, the you know, the little wins, it's us celebrating one step closer to the bigger picture. Even if, you know, it's not necessarily that we're excited about the 1200, you know, box order. We're excited that 1200 people are going to see the product. So it's like even though, you know, we celebrate the small things, it's because we have that big picture in mind.

Speaker D: And it's going to be more than 1200, you know, you, it's exponentially. They're going to show their friends, they're going to show their family. They're, you know, and it's going to, it's going to explode. So kudos to all of you.

Speaker A: Good thinking there. That frame, you know, it's, it's. What does it mean? Where does it lead? Awesome. What a great way to. I, I'm uh, looking forward to sharing this episode. I think there's just a lot of lessons here for other businesses.

Speaker D: Is there anything else anybody like to say before we.

Speaker G: I have a, I have a question for the two of you. I mean, obviously you guys have talked to so many other families. What, what advice do you have? What, you know, what do you guys have to say

Speaker A: in general or in a particular?

Speaker G: I mean, I guess what, what would you, what advice would you have to us to the business?

Speaker D: Mostly I say keep doing what you're doing. Communicate. That's the number one issue in a small family business is communication. Because, you know, because we bring in past with us when we come in, but we can deal with what is now and go forward. And it sounds like, you all are doing a great job on doing that. So continue that.

Speaker A: Yeah, keep doing what works. Keep talking more of what works, and that's what doesn't. That's the, uh. Yeah, a really, really simple principle, but good mindset. It's solid.

Speaker D: Yeah. And, and listen. And you know, the, the, the whole thing about, you know, you have two ears in one mouth and, and listen on that too, because that's another thing that's really important. Not only knowing where you're coming from, but listening to where somebody else is coming in.

Speaker C: And I think I, like, I, I always seem to. Maybe it's the teacher in me. I, I always say I'm like the eternal learner. I'm always pulling in some other businesses and, you know, picking their brain about how they did something or what they learned. Um, so, um, Alexis, uh, share our social media.

Speaker B: Yes, sure. So we are on, uh, Instagram is our biggest platform right now. Um, our handle is at Sugar and Spice Las Vegas. Um, and you can find us on there with all of our announcements, updates, sales, promo codes, um, new locations. Um, it's a good way to stay connected and see what we're doing.

Speaker D: Good. And we'll also have all this in the show notes.

Speaker A: Yeah. So, so your website, uh, um, any

Speaker D: email addresses, you know, any of that stuff that you'd like to do, you

Speaker B: can find us on pretty much all platforms. Um, Sherry's big on LinkedIn, um, and then Facebook and TikTok as well.

Speaker A: Okay, we'll be sure to get that. Oh, Tick Tock. Now, I'm not. I don't think I've ever been on Tick Tock. So I have to get the address.

Speaker G: It should be the same.

Speaker E: Right?

Speaker G: Same. Same uh, handle for everything.

Speaker B: It is the same handle. Yes.

Speaker G: Sugar and spices.

Speaker A: Well done.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker F: Well, um, you're gonna have to, you're gonna have to plan a trip to come out here and visit us and looking, uh, forward.

Speaker D: That's what I'm saying.

Speaker F: I mean, you know, this, this city, there's, there's, there's more to do than just, you know.

Speaker D: We know. Yes.

Speaker F: At the same time.

Speaker D: That's right. Yes. Thank you so much for, for taking your time out and joining us. Thank you for having us.

Speaker A: It's nice to meet you all. And we are so looking forward to seeing the grow, the continued growth of Sugar and Spice.

Speaker C: Thank you.

Speaker D: I can't wait to see you in my Starbucks here in Tampa. Wine is right across. Oh, I could go to Total Wine and come back to the Starbucks.

Speaker C: Chocolate and peanut butter balls. Wine and peanut butter balls. What better combination? Yep.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker C: Thank you for having us.

Speaker E: Yeah.

Speaker B: Thank you.